Press release
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces €4.9 million air service contract for the Aran Islands
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today announced the awarding of a new €4.9 million air service contract for the Aran Islands (Oileáin Árainn).
The PSO contract, which comes into effect on Tuesday, 7 June, will run for 4 years until 2026, will ensure essential mainland connectivity for the island communities and will significantly boost tourism.
For the first time, the contract ensures the provision of a direct service from the mainland to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, which will ensure a faster service for those smaller islands.
The contract with Galway Aviation Services Limited, trading as Aer Arann Islands, follows extensive consultation with island stakeholders and a full procurement process.
Announcing the decision today, Minister Humphreys said:
“This contract gives certainly to the communities of Oileáin Árainn. It ensures they can continue to avail of a year round, reliable and affordable air service to and from Aerfort Chonamara. And for the first time, we will now have direct flights to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr – 2 wonderful island communities that are so steeped in history, culture and folklore. This is a fantastic development for these island communities. And it also sends a huge signal out ahead of the summer tourism season. What better way to spend your summer holidays than on Oileáin Árainn or our other offshore islands. This contract ensures we will have regular, direct flights from Aerfort Chonamara – to the benefit of the residents of Oileáin Árainn and tourists alike. Today’s news is further proof of my contract as Minister to implement our ambitious rural development policy ‘Our Rural Future’, which has our islands at its core.”
The contract will provide 68,274 PSO seats annually to the 3 islands and will operate from Aerfort Chonamara, which was purchased by the State in 2019.
The contract will also see the introduction of a flexible scheduling scheme that will allow operator to better respond to local service demands, such as island festivals and events. ‘Ad Hoc’ and ‘Scheduled non-PSO’ flights will also be provided by the operator to meet any demand above the agreed PSO seating allocation.
Galway Aviation Services Limited trade as Aer Arann Islands.
The contract is estimated to cost €4.87 million over the next 4 years.
The PSO designation for the service lapsed in 2019. This contract brings the air service and air route back into EU regularity compliance.
This contract introduces a new scheduling scheme, provides for scheduled non-PSO and Ad Hoc flights to support the agreed PSO service.
The State bought Aerfort Chonamara for €2.75 million in 2019.
In April 2021, the department agreed a 4 year contract worth €5.6 million with Galway Aviation Services Limited to provide day to day management services of Aerfort Chonamara and the aerodromes on the 3 islands.